South down Central annex Naidu Trophy

Cuttack: Last year's runners-up South Zone annexed the C K Naidu Trophy by virtue of their 201-run first innings lead over Central Zone in the final at the Barabati Stadium here on Tuesday.Replying to the winners' first innings total of 377, Central Zone, which resumed at the overnight 169 for six, were bundled out for a paltry 176 in a span of 4.1 overs as south's medium pacer Lakhmi Pathy Balaji scalped all the four.Balaji, who returned with his career best haul of 6 for 57, made a fine hat trick picking up the last three Central Zone wickets in his 21st over. Play was called off after the 7th mandatory over when South Zone were bowled out for 313 runs in 75.3 overs in their second knock. Stuart Binny top scored with 70 with 4 fours and as many sixes, while opener T S Suman and Mohammad Faiq contributed 47 and 48 runs respectively paying scant respect to the central bowlers.For Central Zone, medium pacer Surender Singh was the most successful claiming five wickets for 53 runs in his 16.3 overs.UNI